We were the first in our issue dated 20th March, to report on the brutal attack on 70-year-old retired businessman Chetandas Khushlani who was beaten up in Vakola by hawkers against whom he had lodged a complaint. After we published the report the main accused in the FIR Surendra Mane went underground. The Vakola police were on a frantic effort to trace Mane. In the investigation, it is learnt that most of the 32 shopkeepers were summoned to Vakola police station for interrogation. Many of them complained that they were harassed by the police to summon Surendra Mane, though many of them admitted that they were not aware of his whereabouts and were only confined to their business. In the FIR along with Surendra Mane, two unknown persons were also lodged in the complaint. Two rental shopkeepers, one who runs a Xerox and Stationery and the other who runs a Hairdressing Salon business were arrested and confined to lock-up for couple of days. They both were later released on bail. Both the shopkeepers admitted their innocence and spoke to Santacruz Patrika saying," Since we are running our business on rental basis in shops owned by accused Surendra Mane, we were unnecessarily arrested by Vakola Police and forced to spend days in lockup for no fault of ours." The disgusted Xerox shopkeeper added, "As I have been running my business for several years, on what basis I was arrested as an unknown person is a surprise to me". "Till date what have the Vakola Police done in arresting or tracing the two unknown culprits," questions the shopkeeper.
After, almost a month cops have finally arrested Surendra Mane who is alleged to have plotted the attack. The Vakola police last week arrested Surinder Mane from the premises of Sessions Court after his application for anticipatory bail was rejected. They also slapped charges of attempt to murder against him after his daughter took up the matter with Sr PI Pardhesi and other authorities. Earlier, Mane was charged with assault and criminal intimidation. Chetandas Khushlani, 70, was thrashed by hawkers after he filed a complaint against them with the BMC. Khushlani had filed a number of complaints against illegal hawkers with the BMC. In the first week of March, the civic authority issued orders for the demolition of illegal stalls in Vakola after he met BMC Commissioner Subodh Kumar. It is alleged that Mane then threatened Khushlani with dire consequences if he didn't withdraw his latest complaint. On March 18, the day of the demolition, Khushlani was thrashed by hawkers when he was on his morning walk. He suffered 10 fractures, and had to go through two operations at Hinduja Hospital.
Inspector Suryakant Talekar said that Mane had set up four food shops opposite Emerald Apts where Khushlani resides. “We have interrogated Mane, and he has now been sent to judicial custody. Khushlani’s son, Lakhmichand, is not satisfied with the investigation and feels that the investigations are being carried out at slow pace and lethargically. They have not been able to identify the BMC official who disclosed my father’s name to hawkers,” he said. Being angered that his father had to pay a heavy price for complaints against illegal encroachment, he fails to understand how come illegal stalls have once again come up in the area. However, Khushlani has filed an RTI application to know why the BMC has allowed illegal hawkers to do business opposite his residence again. He also wants to know why hawkers’ goods and articles were not confiscated and whether the civic body has created any system to check if an illegal stall, once demolished, has been set up again. “More than the police, it is the BMC that should be blamed. Hawkers cannot do business without BMC officials’ tacit consent. What is the point of filing a complaint if roadside vendors are allowed to set up their stalls again an hour after a demolition drive?” Lakhmichand asked.
However, the argument amongst the shopkeepers is - Why are we being made a scapegoat and penalised for carrying on business? Their argument is that more that 70% of shops in Mumbai are illegal and many of them are operating their business on gutters. Why are these illegal shops not demolished? Why are only we been regularly harassed and our shops demolished? It was way back in 1980 a few shop owners set up their shops opposite Emerald Apts. A few of them have been operating their business for more than 30 years. It was first in 1986 when the shops were demolished. After that the shops were demolished about 4 times and the shopkeepers had set up their shops again and continued doing business. It is understood that in 1991 a city survey was conducted and in 2000 the shops were granted gumasta licences. Also in 1997 the shops were granted electric meters and installation. Four years ago when the shops were demolished it is learnt that Sanjay Potnis, Corporator set up a gutter and later asked the shop owners to move away from the roads and allowed them to construct structures above the gutter and carry out business. Further, since after setting up shops above the gutter BMC has not been renewing the gumasta licence of the shopkeepers. Because of frequent threats of demolition it is alleged that in 2009 the shop owners each contributed around 7,000 and paid about 2 lakhs
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